Primal Scream shared a statement in their defense after a video of a swastika intertwined with a Star of David was shown at a concert this week.
The band performed at London's Roundhouse on Monday (December 8). They showed a video that included footage of the destruction of Gaza, the message “Our government is complicit in genocide,” and an animation of a swastika and Star of David merging in the eyes of leaders such as Benjamin Netanyahu and Donald Trump.
The band shared a statement on Instagram today (December 12), writing, “This film is a work of art. It is clearly based on history and questions whether the actions of current world governments are in line with this context. Its purpose is to provoke debate, not hatred. In a free, pluralistic and liberal society, freedom of expression is a right that we choose to exercise.” Comments on all of their Instagram posts were limited.
The Roundhouse has apologized for showing the video at the venue. A spokesperson said: “The content, which was used completely without our knowledge, goes against all of our values. Our organization absolutely condemns anti-Semitism in any form. Acts of hatred, discrimination or prejudice of any kind are completely unacceptable and have no place in our community or spaces. The safety of our staff and concert audiences continues to be of the utmost importance to us. We stand in solidarity with the Jewish community and remain committed to ensuring our spaces are places where everyone feels safe, respected and valued.”
The Community Security Trust, a registered charity representing Jewish people in the UK, released a statement saying it had reported the incident to police. “Intertwining the Star of David with a swastika implies that Jews are Nazis and risks inciting hatred of Jews,” the organization said.
